Jammu, Sep 17 : Launching two smart fencing pilot projects along the international border with Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday expressed the hope that there will be a change in the attitude of the new government in Islamabad towards India.

"I don't think that there will be any change in Pakistan's nature. I pray to God that there would be change. I hope the change will be better than before," he told reporters who asked him whether he expected a change in the attitude with the formation of a new government under Imran Khan.

He was talking to the media at the BSF headquarters in Paloura after launching two "smart" border fencing pilot projects under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) programme.

"Pakistan has its own nature and we cannot change it. What Pakistan can do (to change its nature), it will have to do itself. Pakistan has to understand how to behave with neighbours," Singh said.

He said India has taken maximum attempts to maintain relations with Pakistan as a neighbour.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi went Pakistan by breaking protocol only to maintain better relation. If Pakistan is not trying to understand despite that approach, then what can be done."

Launching the two pilot CIBMS projects, each covering a 5.5 km stretch along the International Border in Jammu, a first-of-a-kind high-tech surveillance system, Singh said the new fencing will be erected in vulnerable areas along the 2,026 km border after monitoring of its proper functioning.

He said technology will help in minimising the casualties of soldiers guarding border as well as help them to de-stress due to long hours in border duties.

"It will also help in reducing the dependency on physical patrolling," said the Minister, adding technology will create an invisible electronic barrier on land, water and even in air and underground, helping the Border Security Force (BSF) to detect and foil infiltration bids in the most difficult terrains.

"When I visited Israel, I saw this system there and immediately after that we started work on this project. Based on the feedback, the system will be foolproof. I have launched two such pilot projects here. We will launch a similar 60 km long pilot project in Assam," he said.

Singh said there were several challenges which the nation faced.

"Whether it is the Naxal violence or terrorism in J&K, our security forces are dealing with this effectively. The Army, CRPF and state police are working here in absolute coordination."

Asked about the boycott of municipal and panchayat polls by the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, he said: "I appeal to these parties to take part in these elections because this is the only way to establish direct contact with the people."

 

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India is witnessing a sharp rise in trojanised Android APK scams, as cybercriminals increasingly exploit fake government, banking, LPG, challan, and welfare scheme apps to seize full remote control of victims’ smartphones.

Cybersecurity investigators warn that attackers are now widely deploying Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware, often powered by leaked builder kits such as CraxsRAT and heavily modified custom payload frameworks. Once installed, these malicious APKs can convert an ordinary Android phone into a fully controlled fraud device, enabling silent surveillance, banking theft, and mass scam propagation.

These malware campaigns are primarily being distributed through WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS phishing links, and fake APK download websites, where users are tricked into installing apps disguised as:

  • e-Challan apps
  • SBI KYC verification tools
  • PM Yojana portals
  • mParivahan clones
  • LPG booking apps
  • fake adult video call apps

As the scale of the threat intensifies, cybersecurity startup TraceX Labs has introduced TraceX Guard, positioning it as a frontline mobile defence platform against APK fraud, RAT infections, QR scams, and malicious permission abuse.

Fear-Based Social Engineering Behind the Surge

According to investigators, these frauds typically begin with panic-driven social engineering messages sent over WhatsApp or Telegram.

Common bait messages include:

  • Your traffic challan has been issued
  • Your SBI KYC is pending
  • PM Yojana verification required
  • Your LPG cylinder booking failed
  • Your bank account will be blocked

These alerts often include fake challan numbers, vehicle details, Aadhaar-linked references, or forged bank notices, creating a sense of urgency that pushes victims to install the malicious APK without verification.

One of the most dangerous variants currently in circulation is a fake mParivahan-style application, which closely mimics India’s legitimate transport services interface while secretly embedding a hidden RAT payload.

How the Malware Takes Over Smartphones

Once installed, the malicious APK immediately requests dangerous permissions, including:

  • Accessibility access
  • SMS permissions
  • Call logs
  • Notifications
  • File storage
  • Battery optimization exemptions

Security researchers say Accessibility Service abuse remains the most critical attack vector, allowing the malware to silently:

  • read screen contents
  • detect banking and UPI apps
  • auto-click Allow / Confirm / Pay buttons
  • capture OTPs
  • launch hidden overlays
  • navigate banking sessions
  • trigger silent fund transfers

Because these actions occur directly on the victim’s trusted device, attackers are often able to bypass traditional fraud detection systems.

Within minutes, victims may lose control over:

  • bank balances
  • UPI wallets
  • Aadhaar and PAN scans
  • contact lists
  • personal photos and media
  • incoming calls
  • SMS OTPs

In many cases, the malware also self-propagates by forwarding malicious APK links through the victim’s own WhatsApp groups and Telegram chats, triggering a chain infection effect across trusted social circles.Fake RTO Challan APKs Become the Most Dangerous Variant

Among the most active campaigns, fake RTO challan APK scams have emerged as one of the most financially destructive.

Victims are first lured into paying a ₹1 “verification fee”, after which the malicious app requests highly sensitive information such as:

  • card number
  • expiry date
  • CVV
  • UPI PIN
  • net banking credentials
  • even ATM PINs

Cybersecurity experts stress that no legitimate government payment system ever asks for an ATM PIN inside an app, making this an immediate red flag.

Once payment details are entered, the embedded RAT intercepts OTPs and silently completes unauthorized transactions.

India’s Mobile Fraud Crisis Reaches Critical Levels

Investigators estimate that more than 70% of reported cyber fraud cases in India now originate from mobile devices, with millions of complaints linked to:

  • malicious APKs
  • phishing URLs
  • QR scams
  • RAT droppers
  • banking session hijacks
  • WhatsApp fraud chains

The impact is particularly severe across Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions, where smartphone adoption has expanded faster than awareness around:

  • APK sideloading risks
  • dangerous permissions
  • fake banking overlays
  • accessibility abuse
  • WhatsApp APK scams

This has effectively turned Android smartphones into the primary battlefield of India’s financial cybercrime ecosystem.

TraceX Guard Introduced as a Real-Time Defence Layer

In response to this rapidly evolving threat landscape, TraceX Labs has launched TraceX Guard, an AI-powered multilingual Android security suite built specifically for India’s APK fraud ecosystem.

The platform offers:

  • real-time APK scanning
  • malicious permission detection
  • hidden app discovery
  • RAT behaviour monitoring
  • QR & phishing URL safety grading
  • OTP and SIM fraud alerts
  • Wi-Fi hotspot verification
  • ransomware defence
  • India-specific scam intelligence feeds
  • support for 10+ regional languages

Its offline-first AI architecture allows users to scan threats without uploading personal data, making it especially useful for privacy-conscious users and low-connectivity regions.

TraceX Labs says the system is specifically trained to detect patterns used in:

  • fake challan scams
  • counterfeit SBI APKs
  • PM Yojana malware
  • wedding invitation APK attacks
  • honey-trap adult apps
  • Telegram-based RAT droppers

From Phishing to Malware-Driven Financial Warfare

Cybersecurity analysts say this marks a major shift in India’s digital threat landscape.

What once began as simple phishing links has now evolved into malware-driven financial warfare at scale, where a single infected smartphone can silently compromise:

  • families
  • WhatsApp groups
  • banking accounts
  • local communities
  • social trust networks

With losses from mobile-first fraud already running into tens of thousands of crores, experts believe the future of cyber defence will increasingly depend on preventive mobile security tools capable of stopping unsafe APKs before installation.

In that battle, TraceX Guard is emerging as one of the most important first lines of defence for India’s digital users.

Download Nowhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tracexlabs.guard